Morocco win in the Africa Cup of Nations. Morocco triumphs 3-0 against Tanzania in AFCON 2023 kickoff. Morocco asserted their position as the frontrunners for the tournament by securing a convincing 3-0 victory over a 10-man Tanzania in the opening match of their Africa Cup of Nations campaign in Group F. The highly-anticipated clash unfolded at the Laurent Pokou Stadium in San Pedro on Wednesday, showcasing Morocco’s prowess in the competition.

World Cup semifinalists Morocco commenced their campaign with a stellar performance, with Captain Romain Saiss contributing a rare goal to give the Atlas Lions a halftime lead. Azzedine Ounahi and Youssef En-Nesyri further reinforced their dominance by netting two more goals in the second half, particularly noteworthy after Tanzania’s Novatus Miroshi received a red card, reducing them to 10 players.

En-Nesyri’s goal celebration added a dramatic twist, initially curtailed by an offside flag. However, following a VAR check, it was confirmed that he had been onside for Achraf Hakimi’s cross, prompting joyous celebrations from En-Nesyri and his teammates. Ounahi later sealed the victory with a well-executed goal, capping off an impressive performance by Morocco.

Despite being a longstanding powerhouse in African football, Morocco is in pursuit of only their second Cup of Nations title, a remarkable 48 years after their previous triumph in Ethiopia. The victory against Tanzania, considered outsiders in Group F, was expected given Morocco’s 13th position in the world rankings, a stark contrast to Tanzania’s 108th place.

Morocco’s starting lineup featured seven players from the squad that contested the World Cup semifinal against France in Qatar, showcasing a blend of talent from various leagues, including La Liga, the Premier League, Ligue 1 and the Saudi Pro League. Notably, players from Turkish and Egyptian clubs completed the diverse lineup.

In contrast, Tanzania’s lineup, with the inclusion of Tarryn Allarakhia from English fifth-tier outfit Wealdstone, struggled to match the skill and experience of the Moroccan side. The convincing 3-0 scoreline echoed the dominance displayed by other top-ranked teams in the tournament, reinforcing Morocco and Senegal as formidable contenders for success in the Africa Cup of Nations.